Two highly-fancied northern stablemates are out of next month’s first ever Harness Grand Prix at Addington. Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan have withdrawn both Merlin from the Ace of Diamonds for the 2YO Pacing Colts and Geldings and also Advance Party from the Ace of Diamonds for the 2YO Pacing Fillies. Advance Party’s withdrawal follows her disappointing 12th in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Sires’ Stakes Fillies Final on Show Day at Addington, won by the unbeaten Millwood Nike, while Merlin ran a huge fourth behind Don’t Stop Dreaming in the Woodlands…
Day: 24 November 2022
Bolt For Brilliance – “he’s pretty close”
By Adam Hamilton Tony Herlihy isn’t about to make any excuses for Bolt For Brilliance in this Inter Dominion. Sure, we all know the challenges Herlihy has faced just getting his stable star to Victoria in recent weeks, but that’s history. “I’m looking forward now,” Herlihy said. “What happened is in the past. If there was even one small thing that worried me, I wouldn’t have brought him across.” Asked how close Bolt For Brilliance is to his top heading into the series, Herlihy sounded bullish. “He’s pretty close. He…
Rothfire Heads Winterbottom Stakes 2022 Field & Odds
The Group 1 action of the Perth Summer Racing Carnival continues this weekend at Ascot Racecourse with Rob Heathcote’s Queensland visitor Rothfire favourite to take out the $1.5 million Winterbottom Stakes (1200m). Rothfire is favourite to win the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes this weekend in Perth. Photo: Steve Hart. A capacity field of sprinters does battle in this year’s Winterbottom, with Rothfire heading the markets at Ladbrokes at $4.20 and firming. He drew ideally on Tuesday night in the Winterbottom Stakes barrier draw with gate three and has two-time Winterbottom…
Ho, De Sousa and Chadwick seal IJC berths, Purton creates history
Zac Purton sets record for most Happy Valley winners atop Amazing Rocky. Vincent Ho, Silvestre de Sousa and Matthew Chadwick have clinched the final three positions in the International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC) next month after Zac Purton created more Hong Kong racing history at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (November 23). Ho, De Sousa and Chadwick will join Purton in Hong Kong’s contingent against Ryan Moore, Hollie Doyle, Jamie Kah, James McDonald, Yuga Kawada, Mickael Barzalona, Tom Marquand and Jye McNeil in the four-race series at Happy Valley on 7…
Shamrock Lu chasing seventh win at Gold Coast this Saturday
Lucy Foran with Shamrock Lu, who runs at the Gold Coast this weekend in search of a seventh career win. Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to race a Winx or a Black Caviar — but for Lucy Foran, being able to see her racehorses run gives her as much joy and excitement as owning a turf champion. Lucy will enjoy that trackside buzz again at Aquis Park at the Gold Coast on Saturday when one of the horses she has a share in, Shamrock Lu, steps out…
Golden Sixty, Romantic Warrior out to repel overseas contingents
Golden Sixty scores a first-up victory at Sha Tin. An outstanding group of world-class horses including Golden Sixty, Panthalassa, Jack d’Or and Romantic Warrior feature among 49 gallopers from Hong Kong, Japan, Europe, Singapore and Australia selected for the HK$110 million Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) at Sha Tin on Sunday, December 11. 26 individual Group 1 winners will bid for a share of the combined record purse on offer across the HK$34 million Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m), HK$30 million Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m), HK$24 million…
Devastate snares Wellington Stakes
Devastate continued his rapid progression with a successful return to Otaki on Thursday to add the Gr.3 Elsdon Park Wellington Stakes (1600m) to his record and continue a dream run for trainer Andrew Forsman. The son of Rich Hill Stud stallion Vadamos completed a double for the stable following the earlier debut victory of Bella Regazza in the Foxton Fish & Chippie 2YO (1100m). Forsman posted his eighth stakes victory this season with the win of Devastate, with four on either side of the Tasman, while the progressive winners have…
Hold The Press upsets in Levin Stakes
Butler was all the rage ahead of the Listed Levin Stakes (1400m) at Otaki on Thursday, but it was local hope Hold The Press who upset the apple cart. Trainers Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard thought the Press Statement mare was a good place chance heading into the race but were pleasantly surprised to see her quickly put a couple of lengths on her rivals in the straight and eventually ran out a 2-1/2 length victor over Sanibel. “It was a very good win. It was a huge thrill for…
Forsman’s rich run continues
Imarichgirl winning at Avondale on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman’s golden run continued at Avondale on Wednesday when he picked up a winning double from just the two starters. Full Of Sincerity added a win to his two previous placings when taking out the Unlock Avondale Development (1600m), while stakes targets now await promising filly Imarichgirl after her maiden win in the Nightmare on Elm Street (1400m). “We took just the two horses there thinking they were good chances,” Forsman said. “They were always going…
Sportsbet Melbourne Cup: Armchair Guide
The inaugural Sportsbet Dream Chasers Festival reaches fever pitch at Sandown Park on Saturday night with the 67th running of the $1 million Group 1 Sportsbet Melbourne Cup Final (515m). Widely regarded as the world’s greatest greyhound race, the Melbourne Cup headlines the penultimate night of the $4.1 million Dream Chasers Festival, which will conclude with the second running of The Phoenix at The Meadows on Saturday, December 17. Eight ‘must win’ Cup heats were conducted in wet conditions last Saturday, with El Dorado, trained by 75-year-old Daryl Holmes at…